How many times have we watched conspiracy shows where they claim the United States military is conducting top secret saucer-like vehicle tests? Too often, certainly. But now, NASA is aiming to deliver one of those UFO-like flying devices to Mars as part of an experimental flight that could send heavy loads to Earth's nearest planet. And it is doing so from Hawaii.
NASA has, for some time now, been sending rovers and other robotic devices to the red planet using similar parachute designs to get them there, but now the space agency is looking to up the ante by delivering larger and stronger parachutes that could be a boost to learning more about the planet.
The first test flight is scheduled for this week. The idea is to put the new saucer-like parachute into the highest areas of the Earth's atmosphere so that it can fly in conditions that simulate Mar's atmosphere, which is thinner than Earth's. So if you see what appears to be a UFO in Hawaii where the launch is to take place, it's just NASA experimenting with one of its new devices.
NASA will use cameras attached to the vehicle to gauge its acceleration and deceleration back to Earth, giving scientists the ability to understand how it potentially will function in the Martian atmosphere.
Online, those interested in tracking the device can follow a live stream on NASA Television of the launch from Kauai on June 3 about 1:45 p.m. of what's officially called the low-density supersonic decelerator.
But NASA is quick to point out that this is only the first attempt and success should not be taken as a given.
"As long as I get data, I'll be very happy," said project manager Mark Adler of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Landing has always been "one of the big technology challenges for a human Mars mission," American University space policy professor Howard McCurdy said in an e-mail to the Denver Post.
NASA is also gearing up for a large press presence at the launch.
The goal is to have a heavier delivery system to Mars, in the hopes of sending human astronauts to the planet in the future, but current rocket systems are ill-equipped to send humans to the planet.
NASA also said it will be testing more flights throughout the rest of this year and into the following year in order to have the best possible vehicle able to send more research tools to Mars.
There is no timetable given by NASA over when the vehicle would be ready for launch with the final destination the red planet.
